Tasha hadn’t thought about Carla in years—at least not deeply. They were gospel choir sisters back in college, harmonizing on stages and late-night dorm room prayers. But life took them down different roads. Tasha stayed faithful to what she believed was the slow, steady path of obedience—married a solid man, raised her kids, served faithfully at church, and kept working her administrative job at the local school board. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest.
Then out of nowhere, Carla popped back up—on social media first, all dressed in power suits and flashing her European trips. Then, at their college choir’s alumni brunch in Atlanta, there she was in real life—smiling, confident, with stories of luxury vacations and influential connections. It wasn’t just her lifestyle that bothered Tasha—it was how easy Carla made it all seem.
Carla hadn’t walked in a church since undergrad. Tasha remembered how she dipped out of gospel choir mid-semester and started partying hard. From what Tasha could see now, she hadn’t changed much in that department. And yet, here she was, blessed beyond what Tasha could even dream of. Meanwhile, Tasha was still trying to stretch every dollar and keep her teenager off his phone long enough to pray.
That night, Tasha lay in bed, tossing and turning. A part of her wanted to be happy for Carla. But something else kept rising up—envy, resentment, and a heavy feeling that whispered, “God, what about me?” She found herself questioning everything—had she missed her moment? Had God overlooked her? Why did He seem to bless someone who hadn’t honored Him at all?
The Plot
There’s something quiet but dangerous that tries to creep into our hearts when we’re not paying attention. It doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it whispers—when we scroll past someone else’s highlight reel or hear about a blessing we’ve been praying for but haven’t yet received. That thing is envy. And if we’re not careful, it partners with jealousy, and together they chip away at the peace and purpose God has already placed within us.
In Proverbs 14:30 (NLT), God’s Word tells us plainly: “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” This is real talk, telling us the toxic impact of jealousy in our souls. It doesn’t just sit in a corner of your heart; it eats away at the inside of you—your joy, your gratitude, your focus. It makes you suspicious of others’ wins. It causes you to question God’s timing and provision. It pulls your eyes off of the unique, purposeful path God has laid out just for you and pushes you to obsess over what someone else is doing, wearing, buying, or becoming. We’ve got to be more careful.
The plot of the enemy is to get us to be envious, but we need to know the truth: you cannot thrive in your own lane when you’re focused on someone else’s race. Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Our races are uniquely set by our Heavenly Father. The lessons that one person was put on this earth to learn and master are different for the next person. And trust me, it takes every tool we’ve got in our wheelhouses to focus on our own spiritual journey in Christ. We have neither the time nor the resources to be focused on anything other than keeping our own relationship with God on point.
What Envy and Jealousy Really Say to God
When we roll out the welcome mat for envy and let it linger, we’re essentially saying, “God, You didn’t do enough for me.” That might sound harsh, but that’s the root of it, and this line of thinking does not represent the truth about our awesome God. It questions His wisdom. It signifies that we’re not as thankful for His goodness as we should be. And it also signals that we’ve forgotten that the same God who brought blessings to someone else is not done with us. As Galatians 6:9 (NLT) reminds us, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Focusing all our attention on the goodness of God should be the desire of our hearts. When it is, we’ll have peace instead of envy and jealousy.
When envy moves into our hearts, it doesn’t come alone—it invites chaos. There’s disorder in our emotions and confusion in our minds. This will ultimately bring strife in our relationships. James 3:16 (NLT) tells us, “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” You’ll notice the handiwork of envy and jealousy very quickly. Suddenly, you find yourself drained, frustrated, and distant from God, not because He moved, but because you took your eyes off of Him.
The Solution: Gratitude, Focus, and Trust
The opposite of envy is gratitude. It’s not that surface stuff, but a deep-down, soul-rooted gratefulness for how far God has brought us, and how He will continue to bless not just our lives, but the lives of our loved ones as well. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” When we’re demonstrating genuine gratitude towards our Heavenly Father, our heart softens. We begin to see some of the greatest blessings we’re enjoying don’t make headlines, but they ground us in a life that is pleasing to Him and fulfilling to us. He’s the glue that holds everything together for us, and we should never forget it.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) reminds us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” The purpose that God has for your life isn’t meant to be compared to anyone else’s. You’re not here by accident. You’re here for His glory. When you really believe this, envy and jealousy lose their grip and begin to fall away. Don’t feel the need to compete with others or focus your attention on their lives. Continue to focus on the One who holds your tomorrow. Trust Him with your whole heart and be confident that in His perfect timing, your time is coming too. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“A Prospering Soul – Part 6 – The Poison of Envy and Jealousy”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.